Smokeless powder.



" NIT'E STATES- PATENT Orrron.

s M oKE'Lsss FPOWD-E'R.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,678, dated August28,1900.

Application filed ma 27,1900. Serial No. ems. on specimens-) To all whomit mag concern:

Be it known that I, J 01m A. STRANSKY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pukwaua, in the county of Brule and State of South Dakota,have invented a new and usefulSmokeless Powder, of which the followingis-a specification.

This invention relates to explosives in general, and more particularlyto powders, one

object of the invention beingto provide a coinpound which willbe cheapof manufacture,

. which will have nocorroding eifect,and which will have a high degreeof penetration.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a compound which willnot require expensive apparatus in its manufacture, but which may bemadewithout any special tools.

An additional object is to provide acompound whichwill-leave a minimumof residue.

The present powder consists of a combination of potassium chlorate,granulated sugar,

- alumyshlphur, and alcohol.

Incompounding the powder one dram of powdered alum is thoroughly mixedwith sixteen ounces of granulated sugar. This mixture is then dissolvedin a solution of one ounce of coffee boiled for ten minutes in one pintof soft water, the mixture being heated at the time to assist in itsdissolving. After the mixture of sugar and alum is thoroughly dissolvedit is removed from the fire and twenty ounces of potassium chlorate isaddedthereto and. is mixedand worked until too stifi to befurther-worked with a spoon. One- ;5 half ounce of alcohol is then addedand the whole is mixed thoroughly for five minutes, after which onedrain of sulphur is added and mixed in. By this time the compound is dryand is ready for granulation and may be used within twenty minutes. v

The chemicals named should of course be of high grade in order to securethe bestresults, and the alcohol should be 188 proof. The ofilce of thesugar is to furnish the required carbon. p

It will be seen from the foregoing that the compoundis extremelycheap,while the man;

nfacture of the powder is simple in the extreme, and it has been foundthat it is smoke-- less, that it has greater penetration than what. hasbeen heretofore produced, and that it does not corrode. z It will ofcourse be understood that the specific proportions mentioned may bevaried under dili'erentv conditions.

What is claimed is- 1. A compound for smokeless powder con- 'sisting ofpotassium chlorate, sugar, powdered alum, sulphur and alcohol.

2. A compound for smokeless powder comprising potassium chlorate, sugar,alum, and sulphur.

3. A compound for'smokeless powder consisting of the ingredients andproportions substantially as follows; potassium chlorate twenty ounces;sugar sixteen ounces; alum one dram; sulphur one dram and alcohol.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- JOHN A. STRANSKY.

Witnesses:

Tnonrson WAGAE, JOHN TOMSHEK.

